V. Stiviano Attorney: Donald Sterling Rant Audio Is 'Legitimate'

The firm representing the woman heard in the incendiary audio recordings of the Clippers owner says that their client "did not release the tape(s) to any news media."

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

V. Stiviano; Donald Sterling

The attorney representing V. Stiviano -- the woman heard on the tape in which racist remarks were made by mogul Donald Sterling -- released a statement on Sunday saying that audio is "legitimate" and Stiviano did not release the clip to the news media.

"This office understands that the currently released audio tape of approximately 15 minutes is a portion of approximately one (1) hour of overall audio recording of Mr. Donald T. Sterling and Ms. Stiviano, and is in fact legitimate," read a statement from attorney Mac E. Nehoray."Ms. Stiviano did not release the tape(s) to any news media. Due to the present litigation and its absurd allegations, which Ms. Stiviano vehemently denies, Ms. Stiviano and this office have no comments at this time."

TMZ posted an initial recording of the Los Angeles Clippers owner on Friday evening, prompting an NBA investigation into the contents of the audio. An extended version of the conversation was posted by Gawker Media's Deadspin on Sunday morning, and the website noted that it could not verify whether the audio "has been edited in some way."

On Saturday, Clippers president Andy Roeser released a statement on behalf of the organization and Sterling. "We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered," Roeser stated. "We do know that the woman on the tape -- who we believe released it to TMZ -- is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would 'get even.' "

The litigation referenced in Nehoray's statement refers to a recent lawsuit lawsuit filed in L.A.'s Central Civil Superior Court by Rochelle Sterling, wife of the team owner, against Stiviano.

NBA league commissioner Adam Silver said in a press conference that Sterling would not be attending Sunday's playoff matchup between the Clippers and Warriors. League spokesperson Mike Bass called the owner's remarks "disturbing and offensive" and pledged a "full investigation."